Battles of World War II

Battle of Dunkirk

May 26, 1940

Combatants: Britain, France, Belgium vs. Germany
Leaders: Britain: John French, Douglas Haig; France: Maurice Gamelin; Germany: Gerd von Rundstedt
Casualties & Deaths: Over 300,000 Allied soldiers evacuated, most equipment was lost. German casualties were also significant.
Outcome/Results: A tactical defeat for the Allies as they abandoned most equipment, but a strategic victory in preserving a significant portion of their fighting force. These troops later played a vital role in the war effort.

Battle of Moscow

Sep 30, 1941

Combatants: Germany (Axis) vs. Soviet Union (Allies)
Military Leaders: Germany: Fedor von Bock, Heinz Guderian; Soviet Union: Georgy Zhukov, Semyon Timoshenko
Casualties and Deaths: Millions on both sides, with estimates ranging from 1 million to over 2 million total casualties.
Outcome/Results: A major Soviet victory that stopped the German advance on Moscow and shattered the myth of German invincibility.

Battle of Pearl Harbor

Dec 7, 1941

Combatants: Japan vs. United States
Leaders: Japan: Isoroku Yamamoto; United States: Husband E. Kimmel, Walter Short
Casualties & Deaths: Over 2,400 Americans killed and 1,100 wounded. The attack crippled the US Pacific Fleet, damaging or destroying 21 ships (including eight battleships) and over 300 aircraft.
Outcome/Results: A surprise attack that crippled the US Pacific Fleet but ultimately led to the US entering World War II, uniting American public opinion against Japan.

Battle of Midway

Jun 4, 1942

Combatants: United States vs. Japan
Leaders: US: Chester Nimitz, Raymond Spruance; Japan: Isoroku Yamamoto
Casualties & Deaths: Japan suffered crippling losses, including four aircraft carriers and over 3,000 sailors. US losses were significantly lower.
Outcome/Results: A major turning point in the Pacific War. The crippling blow to the Japanese Navy gave the US the upper hand.

Battle of Kursk

Jul 5, 1942

Combatants: Germany (Axis) vs. Soviet Union (Allies)
Military Leaders: Germany: Gerd von Rundstedt, Erich von Manstein; Soviet Union: Georgy Zhukov
Casualties and Deaths: Estimates vary, but around 850,000 total casualties (killed, wounded, missing) on both sides, with the Soviets suffering the most
Outcome/Results: A decisive Soviet victory that marked the turning point on the Eastern Front. The Germans never regained the initiative and were forced into strategic retreat for the rest of the war

Battle of Stalingrad

Aug 23, 1942

Combatants: Soviet Union (Allies) vs. Germany (Axis)
Leaders: Soviets: Georgy Zhukov, Konstantin Rokossovsky; Germans: Friedrich Paulus, Hermann Hoth
Casualties & Deaths: Devastating on both sides, estimates range in the millions (soldiers and civilians).
Outcome/Results: A decisive Soviet victory that inflicted heavy losses on the German army and marked a major turning point on the Eastern Front.

Battle of Normandy

Jun 6, 1944

Combatants: United States, Britain, Canada vs. Germany
Leaders: Allies: Dwight D. Eisenhower, Bernard Montgomery, Omar Bradley; Germany: Erwin Rommel
Casualties & Deaths: Over 100,000 casualties on both sides in the first day alone. Total Allied casualties estimated at 200,000, with German losses likely exceeding that.
Outcome/Results: A major Allied victory that opened a second front against Germany in Western Europe. The success of the invasion led to the eventual liberation of France.

Battle of Bulge

Dec 16, 1944

Combatants: United States, Britain vs. Germany
Leaders: Allies: Dwight D. Eisenhower, Bernard Montgomery, George Patton; Germany: Gerd von Rundstedt, Joachim Peiper
Casualties & Deaths: Over 100,000 Allied casualties and an estimated similar number for the Germans.
Outcome/Results: A last-ditch German offensive through Belgium and Luxembourg that failed. The Allies suffered heavily but held their ground, inflicting significant losses on the Germans and exhausting their remaining resources.

Battle of Iwo

Feb 19, 1945

Combatants: United States vs. Japan
Leaders: US: Chester Nimitz, Holland Smith; Japan: Tadamichi Kuribayashi
Casualties & Deaths: Over 26,000 US casualties and all but a few hundred Japanese defenders were killed.
Outcome/Results: A brutal fight for a strategically important island needed as a base for US bombers closer to Japan. A costly victory for the US, but it provided a crucial staging ground for the final assault on Japan.

Battle of Jima

Feb 19, 1945

Combatants: United States vs. Japan
Leaders: US: Chester Nimitz, Holland Smith; Japan: Tadamichi Kuribayashi
Casualties & Deaths: Over 26,000 US casualties and all but a few hundred Japanese defenders were killed.
Outcome/Results: A brutal fight for a strategically important island needed as a base for US bombers closer to Japan. A costly victory for the US, but it provided a crucial staging ground for the final assault on Japan.

Battle of Berlin

Apr 16, 1945

Combatants: Soviet Union (Allies) vs. Germany (Axis)
Leaders: Soviets: Georgy Zhukov, Konstantin Rokossovsky; Germans: Helmuth Weidling
Casualties & Deaths: Hundreds of thousands of casualties on both sides, including civilians.
Outcome/Results: The final battle in Europe. The capture of Berlin by the Soviets effectively ended Nazi Germany's ability to wage war and marked the end of WWII in Europe.